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Where to Find Support When Your Loved One has Parkinson's

Dealing with a loved one's illness is always hard, and it can take a toll on family and friends alike. Whether you are a direct caregiver for the person that has Parkinson's or just a committed friend it can be very difficult to stay strong for your loved one when you are struggling to accept the changes that their illness brings to your life. You will have to watch your friend go through a lot of pain and suffering and you will also have to watch his or her physical condition deteriorate over time. It's very hard to face that without a strong support system of your own. Unless you get the support that you need to deal with your feelings about your loved one's illness you won't be able to support your loved one in the way that he or she needs you to.

Often family and friends of people with Parkinson's feel guilty if feel angry or upset about the way that their lives will change as a result of their loved one having Parkinson's but that's natural. You need to find some support where you can vent your feelings and lean on some caring friends so that you can renew your own energy and strength. That's not selfish. If you want to really be there for your loved one it's necessary for you to be there for yourself too. Here are some great places to look for support when you're dealing with a loved one's Parkinson's disease:

Online - There are lots of online support groups for the family and friends of Parkinson's patients. Going online to find support is a great way to get what you need and connect with other people that understand what you're going through anonymously. You can also get support online whenever you need it and not just during set meeting times. Message boards, chat rooms, blogs and websites all exist for people that love someone with Parkinson's. Whether you are still reeling from the diagnosis or dealing with the problems brought on by advanced Parkinson's you can find friends that you can lean on at any time of the day or night online.

Local support groups - Even though local support groups aren't available 24 hours a day like online support groups local support groups give you the chance to get out of the house and interact physically with people who know what you're going through. Look in your local community newsletter or call your local community center to find out when your local Parkinson's support group meets next.

Creative outlets - Another great way to deal with the sadness, frustration, depression and other emotions that you might be feeling is to channel those feelings into some creative outlets. You could write in a journal or keep a blog detailing your experiences as a friend or family member of someone with Parkinson's. Or you could start documenting the family history to find out more about your loved ones while they are still here. You could also start a scrapbook full of happy memories involving your loved one so that you can focus on the happy times that you've had with that person for awhile.